Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-11

blows Col. Peck threatened to give me five
more. / went back TO the shop and the
next time | came up DR.. Bruce excused me
from nv work. Shortly after going to my
cell Mr.. johnson, the guard, came n
took everything out ] had in 1T eX-
cen,iuq the bedding. He took my letters,
INV wife's picture, my Bible, and every
thing out OF my cell, although had been
excused by the penitentiary physician. L
STAYED in my cell, i think, eleven days.
Durinc that time | vas not allowed out In
the GALLERY. | do not know why this was
done nor why the articles were taken
ont of my cell. Finally, when Dr. Bruce
sent me hack to the shop the swelling was
NOT all ont ofmy hand, and | found myself
unable 10 do my task. / came up TO Dr.
Prince during the week and he said he
couId not excuse me-that he had excused
me before against the wishes of the officials
of the p~enitentiary. l then went back 10
the shop, and was reported again for snort
work. This was On Friday, June 4th.
Col. Peck took me down in the cellar IN
comnany with a man named Lucas. MT:
peck made me take down my pants ana
hold nv shirt up, and he whipped me
himself. | counted up to eighteen lashes,
when the pain became so great eould not
connt auy longer. The blood rau down
into the hollOws under my knees, from
the blows inflicted upon me. hat even
ing after | had finished supper, while SIT
ting in the dining hall, Mr.. Bowers, then
guarding the whip shop, called me n
said was wanted. He took NE down IN
the cellar and | was ordered to strip my
self. | was put in the Shortly" and Col.
Peck himself played the hose upon me:
For how long | do not know. l should
nudge 100 10 minutes. Perhaps would be
likely to exaggerate the time. 1hls
was for the same kind of an offense l was
puuished for in the mOrning-for snort
work. After Mr.. Peck whipped me eigh-
teen lashes l was put back to work, but
was not able to do it, and they put me III
the ''shoe tly" the same evening. Alter
had been whipped, as | was coming out oil
the cellar. Col. Peck said tn me: Roberts,
YOU have got to do your task, or dTn
YOU, | will cut you all to pieces. VIII
have YOU brought up here twice a day and
whip YOU until You do your task:
Those were his exact words.
| After l was released from the "shoo ny
NV head was swimming 50 ! lost my bal
ance and fell to the floor. Col. Peck told
Capt Boner to put me back in the "shoo
fy''-he would see If he could not get me
over to the bench. | crawled over to the
bench OH my hands and knees, fearing ne
would put Inc back, and dreading what
would follow. This was on Friday June
4th. On the following Monday went to
DIR. Bruce again with my hand and begged
him to excuse me-, old nm
| was getting cut to pieces:
Finally, after 4 good deal of pleading with
the Doctor, he ordered me to my cell again,
and Mr.. Johnson, the guard, came and
cleaned everything out Of it. My prevl-
Gus effects had never been returned, but
had books and papers that had been loaned
me by different prisoners after my ELECTS
were taken out. | was then kept IN my
cell for thirteen days without heing al
lowed to come outside the door, although
| repeatedly asked permission TO take some
exercise. 1 was suffering from sick-head-
ache and nausea in my cell. Although !
asked Capt. johnson if | could be shaved
lis | had been six weeks without being
s~haved-he said he could not do anything,
but he would see Col. Peck. Finally he
told me his orders were Ia keep me IN my
cell. On Sunday week after being sent to
nv cell DIR. Bruce came around on his
usual visit and he said TO me: Roberts,
when were you out of your cell
last?'' | told him a week ago the
previous Monday morning, He asked me
if hadn't had any exercise since then. |
told him | hadn't been outside OF my cell
door. Then he told me to 90 down in the
ward and take some exercise. On the day
following returned to the whip shop, but
still could not do my task, and when the
Board met on Wednesday, June %, | was
sent for by the Board, having previously
requested Capt. Johnson Ia see If | would
not be allowed to go before them
and try to get my work
changed. When called before the
Board they asked me if | had any com
plant TO make, and ! told them about my
hand, showing them the condition of it,
aud how had been punished. / told
them what my occupation had been pre-
vious tn my coming in here. The cOnse-
uuence was, the evening afterwards, was
ordered TO report TO Mr.. Wickham, the
engineer of the pc%nitentiary, ut the engine
room. | remained in the engine that
date until, | think, the day hciUre Christ
mas, and during that time | was not
reported in any shape or form.
In the month of September, while in the
engine roOm, | was grinding in a valve at
the donkey pump, in the boiler ROOM, and
LorCutz Spellcr, Il col0red man employed
in the engine room, came down Ia me aud
| said:
''Robert, did you see the Sheriff from
Summers county when he was down here?'
! told him no, and asked him why. He
said: 'Mr. Peck told me to come and ask
you il YOU had seen the Slleriff-that he
believed you had, and il you had he WAS
going Ia buck ANA gag you" hadn't
seen the Sheriff, and therefor replied in the
negative.
The witness said that when he was placed
in the whip shop again in December his
hand swclled up again, and he showed II
to the doctor and also tO MIR. Peck. The
Superintendent said il vas funny | had
said nothing about il when ! first came.
He described the sensation Of bRing 'shOo-
flied" and said il was terrible. There
pwas u feeling Of dizziness, and a thick,
heavy film came over his eyes. lie said,
most emphatically, that he thought he
had been cruelty treated, hut he had no
fault To find with the food, clothing or the
condition of the prison.
SOUTH SIDE ROBBERY.
Two Ladies ChIoroformed aud Their Resi-